Spark plug



24, E933o G. M. WENDLING 1,931,951

SPARK PLUG Filed June 23, 1932 imintended @et 24, i933 einer entre George Wendung lanlrten, il. male, assigner ot' one-third John L. Albrecht, Mitchell,

Yankton, Q. Dalt.

Application .lume 23,

rThis invention relates to spari; and it an object of the invention to provide a device ci this kind constructed in a manner whereby passes continuously through the entire length of J the plug and the electrode thereby lteeping the plug cooler than the type of plugs new generally used and also prevents burning out et the elec@ trede.

lit is also an object oi the invention to provide a a plug of this kind wherein a flow ot air is al lowed to lteep the electrodes clean and to prem vent fouling.

another object the invention is to provide a spark plug constructed in a manner whereby .G air is allowed to pass through the plug elecu trede into the associated combustion chamber whereby the motor is materially cooled and thus adding iiie to all moving parts of the motor and all parts under friction.

As is well 1irnown the vacuum that liits the fuel into the combustion chamber of the motor also li ts some oil past worn piston rings and causes oil pumping, The invention has for' an object to provide a spark plug allowing passage of air ."5 ltherethrough to set up a certain downward draft on the rings and thereby counteracting the vac= uvre and so materially reduce any 'tendency of oil ping.

A still iurther object of the invention is to provide a spari; plug having a valve controlled passage therethrough for allowing air to pass into the associated cylinder as a result or" the vacn uuin pull Ycreated in the cylinder and in accordu ance with the strength of the vacuum pull where-z by in a multiple cylinder motor it will be assured that all of the cylinders will be substantially equal strength.

lhe invention consists in the details or" con-a struction and in the combination and arrangen `nent of the several parts of my improved sparlt plug whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and ad vantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more `fully set forth.

rEhe novel features of my invention will here= inciter be denitely claimed.

lu order that my invention may be the better understood, l will now proceed to describe the flewith reierence to the accompanying drawu ing,l whereinz l'igure l is a view in section with portions in elevation of a spark plug constructed in accord-n ance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view or? the Schule,

Serial No. 531.8,964

(Gil. 12E-Milli sparlr. plug as illustrated in Figure l with additional parts in section.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, l denotes the shell or body member of a plug in which a porcelain or insulating core 2 is secured in a conventional manner by the general type ci packing nut 3. The ring end of the shell l carries a conventional electrode Ll for coaction with the tubular electrode 5 extending axially through the inner or inserted end portion of the e porcelain or insulating core The inner end portion of the electrode 5 is formed to provide a surrounding head i3 which contacts with a surrounding shoulder afforded by the inner end l of an enlarged bore 8 provided axially of the porcelain or insulating core 2 at the outer end portion thereof.

snugly ntting within the enlarged bore il and in close contact with the head f5 of the electrode 5 is a sleeve 9 of a material conductive of electricity and which, therefore, constitutes a con tinuation or" the electrode 5.

The outer portion oi the sleeve d carries a surrounding ange or head l@ in contact with the outer end of the porcelain or insulating core 2 and which has in threaded engagement with its periphery hollow or cup-like cap ll. This cap ll has disposed through its peripheral wall a plurality of suitably positioned air openings l2. The outer closed end le of the cap ll carries a post l5 upon which is threaded a clamping nut 16 whereby the terminal of a conductor wire may be readily and effectively maintained in desired electrical connection with the cap ll. As is loelieved to be readily understood the cap ll is also po of a material conductive of electricity.

Snugly engaged within the sleeve 9 and of a length coextensive therewith is a second sleeve l?? the inner or inserted end portion of which having its `pore enlarged to provide an internal valve seat i8 with which coacts a valve member 19 car ried by the inner or inserted extremity oi a stem 20 disposed axially of the sleeve 17 and of a length at all times to extend beyond the outer end of said sleeve i7 and within the applied cap ll.

lThe stern 20 is of a diameter less than the bore of the sleeve l'l and the outer portion of the stem 2U for a material distance therealong is disposed on a gradual taper as indicated at 2l. This tapered portion 2l is directed through a suitably tapered opening 22 provided centrally oi a septum 23 intersecting the bore of the sleeve l7 adjacent to the outer end thereof.

The outer extremity of the stern 2O has threadl ed or otherwise adjustably mounted thereon a head or enlargement 24 and interposed between this head or enlargement 24 and the septum or partition 23 is an expansible member 25, herein disclosed as acoll spring surrounding the stem 20. By adjusting the head or enlargement 24 lengthwise of the stem 20 the tension of the member or spring 25 can be varied or regulated within of course certain limits. This member or spring 25 operates to normally maintain the valve member 19 closed against its seat 18.

With the plug applied the vacuum created in the associated cylinder will result in air being drawn lengthwise entirely through the spark plug and through the tubular electrode 5 into the cylinder, such vacuum of course effecting first an opening of the valve 19 with the resultant movement of the stem 20 which opens the central aperture in the septum or partition 23. This air entering the cylinder serves to cool the cylinder and which cooling will materially add to the life of all moving parts of the motor and all parts under friction. This cooling of the motor will also preserve the oil longer and consequently require less oil. The passage of the air through the plug and through the electrode 5 prevents burning out of the electrode and keeps the ring points clean and also eliminates fouling. The vacuum that lifts the fuel into the combustion chamber also lifts up some oil passed worn piston rings and causes oil pumping. The air going through my improved plug causes a certain downward draft on the rings, counteracting the vacuum and thereby materially reducing oil pumping.

It is recognized that a plurality of cylinders of a motor are not of uniform strength and, therefore, it follows that the most powerful'cylinder creates the strongest vacuum pull on the spark plug valve and draws in more air than the weaker cylinder with less vacuum pull. In proportion, however, that the cylinders take in air through the spark plugs, such cylinders draw more or less fuel from the carburetor, viz., the stronger cylinder taking in the greatest amount of air gets the same proportion less fuel, etc. It will thus be seen that the cylinders of a motor equipped with spark plugs constructed in accordance with my invention have a material tendency toward equalization of the strength of all of the cylinders.

Unquestionably equalization of the strength of the cylinders results in more power of the motor and as the air is introduced through the spark plug into the combustion chambers it will of course replace a certain amount of fuel (amount depending upon the strength of each cylinder) with the result that less fuel will be consumed from explosion in comparison when spark plugs of the ordinary type are used. It also has been found in practice that` with the use of my improved spark plug, the air cushion formed under the spark plug reduces shock of explosion on the pistons, pins and bearings and reduces detonation and spark knock thus assuring smoother running motor and longer life of the vehicle. I also find that the cool air passing through the electrode 5 and strikingat the point keeps broken up the ironized field that forms around the points and thereby tending toward a better performance of the spark plug.

It is also to be stated that the tapered portion 21 of the stem 20 dependent upon the extent of endwise movement of the stem 20 as a result of the vacuum created within the associated cylinder will effectively regulate the air passing through the spark plug.

-From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a spark plug constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.,

I claim:-

1. A spark plug including an insulating core having a bore extending lengthwise therethrough, the outer portion of the bore being enlarged, said enlarged bore providing an inner end shoulder surrounding the inner end of the inner portion of the bore, a tubular electrode snugly disposed through the inner portion of the bore, the inner portion of said electrode having a surrounding head contacting with the inner shoulder of the outer portion of the bore, a tubular sleeve of electricalconductive material snugly engaged within the outer and enlarged portion of the bore and havingrdirect contact with the` head carried by the inner end of the electrode, the outer end of the sleeve being defined by a surrounding flange overlying the outer end of the enlarged portion of the bore, a hollow "cap of conductive material engaged with the periphery of the flange of the sleeve, said cap lhaving air openings in the wall thereof and being adapted for connection with a source of electrical energy, and a check valve within the sleeve.

2. A spark plug including an insulating core having a bore extending lengthwise therethrough, the outer portion of the bore being enlarged, said enlarged bore providing an inner end shoulder surrounding the inner end of the inner portion of the bore, a tubular electrode snugly disposed through the inner portion of the bore, the inner portion of said electrode having a surrounding head contacting with the inner shoulder of the outer portion of the bore, a tubular sleeve of electrical conductive material snugly engaged within the outer and enlarged portion of thebore and having direct contact with the head carried by the inner end of the electrode. the outer end of the sleeve being defined by a surrounding flange overlying the outer end of the enlarged portion of the bore, a hollow cap of conductive material engaged with the periphery of the flange of the sleeve, said cap having air openings in the wall thereof and being adapted for connection with a source of electrical energy, a second sleeve snugly engaged within the first named sleeve, said second sleeve being intersected by a septum and having an external valve seat, a stern carrying a valve for coaction with the valve seat, said stem being freely disposed through the septum and of a length to extend within the cap, a head carried by the extremity of the stem within the cap, and a spring surrounding the stem and interposed between the septum of the second sleeve and the head of the stem for urging the valve to its seat.

GEORGE M. WENDLING. 

